Earthquake jolts in Afghanistan, tremors felt in Pak and India October 26, 2015 15:56
As a powerful earthquake has struck northern Afghanistan, tremors were strongly felt as wide as northern India and Pakistan. According to the US Geological survey report, the magnitude of the quake is 7.7 on the Richter scale. It was centered in a mountainous region that is region 45km (28 miles) south-west of Jarm. Local new channels of Pakistan are showing how people are evacuating the high-rise office buildings. No reports of casualties are available yet. Tremors were also felt in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Reuters’ reports have cited local wetness saying that the tremors were felt, shaking buildings there. Also Delhi locals went running from their home as they felt tremors. USGS said that the quake was nearly 196km deep and centered almost 82km southeast of the city of Feyzabad, 45 km south-west of the town of Jarm, Afghanistan. The tremor has struck around 2:10pm and the quake came just after rains in several places of Afghanistan. Thus, the mud-built houses became more vulnerable to collapse. Cars stopped in the streets of Kabul and residents ran out of homes, offices and schools, screaming. According to reports from NBC news, producer Mushtaq Yusufzai was in Peshawar when the earthquake struck. He was having lunch with his family. He said, "There was no was way to go downstairs so we immediately climbed to the rooftop. It seemed the entire building is going to collapse. Women and children were crying and traffic was stopped on roads." - Sumana
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Hospital Staff Performs Garba Dance In ICU Ward October 20, 2015 17:42
The reports reveal that the staff at the Sola Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, performed for garba dance with loud music in the back ground inside the ICU ward, which is incompliant with hospital rules. They performed just after Nitinbhai Patel, the Gujarat Finance, Medical Education, and Health and Family Welfare Minister, made a visit to the hospital for inaugurating a new dialysis centre. The played with full enthusiasm and swing in front of the ailing patients. The celebration of the opening of the new center happed with loud music around in the ICU ward, where even mobile phones are prohibited as per the hospital rules. The video of the hospital staff playing garba in ICU ward went viral. According to TV9 report, the administration was not aware of the proceedings and got it turned off as soon as they came to know. Moreover the hospital staff is seen dancing with foot ware in the area where utmost hygiene is expected. -Sumana
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Uber Rape Case, Cab Driver Found Guilty October 20, 2015 15:01
Uber cab driver, 32-year-old Shiv Kumar Yadav, was held guilty by a Delhi court for raping a 26 year old women executive last year. He was convicted by Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja and later fixed 23 October as the date to decide quantum of sentence following arguments. The police said that Yadav allegedly raped the women on the night of 5 December 2014 in his cab, which she hired to return home in Inderlok in North Delhi. She was assaulted by the Uber cab driver at an isolated place. Uber India released a statement that said, "Pleased he has now been brought to justice." Amit Jain, Uber India President, said in a statement that, "Safety is a priority for Uber and we've made many improvements -- in terms of new technology, enhanced background checks and better 24/7 customer support -- as a result of the lessons we learned from this awful case.” On 15 January, the trial in the case began and the case was supported by all 28 prosecution witnesses with their evidence. The counsel of the accused argued that Shiv Kumar Yadav had been implicated in the case. The accused was also identified by the victim, first time in the Tis Hazari court premises and second time in the trial of the case. Shiv Kumar Yadav was convicted on the charges of rape, kidnapping a woman, endangering the life of a woman, causing grievous bodily harm, criminal intimidation as well as voluntarily hurting under the relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code. -Sumana
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IFS Officer Related To Vyapam Tests Found Dead On Railway Track October 17, 2015 17:47
Police has announced on Saturday that a retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, Vijay Bahadur, linked to Vyapam tests found dead in Odisha on a railway track. The officer acted as an observer in two of the Vyapam recruitment tests. The officer’s body was identified near Belpahar station under Jharsuguda junction of the South-Eastern railways on Thursday I.E. 15 October 2015, according to police. Bahadur was on his way to Bhopal from Puri. He was along with his wife Nita Singh travelling by the Puri-Jodhpur Express. Karam Sey Kawar, superintendent Railway Police (Rourkela), said that prima facie is looking like Vijay Bahadur accidentally fell from the running train and died. The officer added that the post-mortem report would help to ascertain the actual cause of the death. The post-mortem report should come available with the Government Railway Police. Mr. Kawar said, “We are investigating into the matter even though no FIR was filed by the family members at our police station.” The officer added that the body of Vijay Bahadur was taken by his family members after the autopsy. According to police sources, Ms. Singh reported that her husband went missing when he went to the train’s ticket checker after reaching Raigarh station, which is nearly 70 km from Jharsuguda district. Earlier in July, the Supreme Court handed the probe over to the CBI. It is investigating into the Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal (Vyapam) scam and cases concerning the mysterious deaths of more than 40 accused or witnesses. -Sumana
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‘Geeta Will Be Back In India Soon’: Sushma Swaraj October 15, 2015 16:32
Most of us remember the deaf-mute Indian woman named, Geeta, living in Pakistan as she was struck for 14 years in Karachi and is believed to have been crossed as a child into Pakistani territory. After vigorous search her family was located and she would probably be back in India soon. Geeta accidentally crossed the border more than a decade back. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister, said on Thursday that, “Geeta will be back in India soon. We have located her family. She will be handed over to the family only after the DNA test.” Sources revealed that Geeta identified her father, siblings and step-mother from a photograph sent by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to her. According to reports, family lives in Bihar. Let us hope that the girl comes to her home land soon. Also read: Indian Girl In Karachi Fails To Trace Family For 14 Years -Sumana
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Dance Bars To Operate In Maharashtra As SC Stays Ban October 15, 2015 14:50
Dance bars can now get back to action in Maharashtra as the Supreme Court (SC) stayed the ban imposed by the state government on dance performances in bars, restaurants and hotels. According to bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant, the act brought by the state was similar to the previous one that was announced unconstitutional by the apex court. However, licensing authorities were given power by the SC for the regulation of indecent dance performances. SC also asked to ensure to protect the dignity of woman artist. “However, we have a rider that no performance of dance will be remotely expressive of any kind of obscenity...the licensing authority can regulate such dance performances so that individual dignity of woman performer is not harmed,” the Bench said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "We will abide by the SC's decision on dance bars. The SC has also said that there should be no obscenity in dance bars, we will regulate them." In 2009, a similar law was stroked down by the Apex court saying that it was unconstitutional to ban the dance performances. Again in 2014, a similar law was brought by the state government with similar provisions. The recent law was stayed, as the bench found that there is no much difference between the two. -Sumana
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School Boy Mails PMO On Traffic Snarl During Drive To School October 14, 2015 18:12
An eight-year-old boy Abhinav, who was disgusted with traffic snarls from BEL Circle to Goraguntepalya junction, had shot off a letter to the prime minister's office (PMO), doing what thousands of hassled motorists did not do. The boy is studying in Class III and takes 45 minutes to commute a 3km distance from his home to the National Public School in Yeshwanthpur. He stays with his family in Doddabommasandra, Vidyaranyapura. Abhinav wrote a letter to the PMO about the gridlock that occurs at a junction in northwest Bengaluru. It is testing the patience of commuters in that location. As per the boy’s letter, the traffic jams is being caused due to an under-construction flyover over a railway crossing on the Outer Ring Road, near to Goraguntepalya junction. Upon receiving the letter, the railways was asked by PMO to look into the issue. As per the letter, the traffic pileup is affecting "not just people's health, but also my studies." The letter added that the project is behind schedule because of delay in sanctions for the project from the defence authorities. Experts opine that the boy’s letter indicates that it is never too late or too late to make a case for public good. -Sumana
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Clash Between Sikh Protestors, Faridkot Police, At Least 15 Injured October 14, 2015 15:08
On Wednesday, at least 15 people were injured, including police men in a clash between Sikh protestors and police in Faridkot over an alleged incident of irreverence in the district. When batons were used by the police to fire in the air so as to quell protests, activists of several Sikh organizations along with policemen were injured. Sources reveal that the situation is tense yet under control in the district. A heavy police force was deployed to maintain law and order. After the happening of the alleged sacrilege, few places in Faridkot and its adjacent Moga have been tense for some days. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal have made an appeal to the people to maintain peace. Mr. Badal said that the guilty would not be spared. On Monday, tension built up in Kotkapura area after more than 100 pages of Sikh holy book were found lying down in a street nearer to the gurdwara. The holy book was stolen in June from a Gurdwara. Although 200 protestors were rounded up in Kotkapura by police on Tuesday, they were released later. -Sumana
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Online Storm Began When PM Calls Badal As India's Nelson Mandela October 12, 2015 17:51
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment on Parkash Singh Badal, the Chief Minister of Punjab, as India's Nelson Mandela created online storm and prompted Amarinder Singh, Congress leader, to question the "sense of humour” of Modi. Key Congress leader in Punjab, Mr Singh, said in a written statement, "Either it is a tongue in cheek comment by the Prime Minister and he really did not mean what he said, or he actually does not know what he is saying.” The Prime Minister praised Mr Badal at a function that was organized to mark Jai Prakash Narayan’s 113th birth anniversary. The public personalities were felicitated by him for fighting the Emergency imposed by regime of Indira Gandhi. Referring to the Gandhi family, Modi commented that: "There is a special family about whom pages are written in history even if their fingernails break. Very few people know that Badal Saheb is Nelson Mandela of India, who has spent nearly two decades in jail only because of political differences." As soon on Modis comments, jokes sprouted in social media with the hashtag # #YoBadalSoMandela. Mr Singh, who called it as an insult, said, "If Mr Modi seriously means Mr Badal to be the Nelson Mandela of India, then, I am sure, he might be thinking that like Mandela he (Mr Badal) deserves a Bharat Ratna and Nobel Peace Prize also and he should really lobby for him". Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President tweeted: “Dear PM please have some pity on the legendary Nelson Mandela. Don't compare him with Alibaba of Punjab. #YoBadalSoMandela” -Sumana
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Infosys Names Ranganath Mavinakere As New Chief Financial Officer October 12, 2015 16:40
Infosys has named Ranganath Mavinakere as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Key Managerial Personnel with effect from 12 October 2015. The company announced that Rajiv Bansal, who is the CFO stepped down and key managerial personnel with effect from 12 October 2015 and even resigned from the company services effective 31 December 2015. The company said in its filing that, “The 2011 RSU plan has been amended in accordance with the SEBI (share based employee benefits) regulations, 2014 and will be issued as the 2015 Incentive Compensation Plan. The grants made under the 2011 RSU plan will continue to be administered and implemented by the 2015 Incentive Compensation Plan. The 2015 Incentive Compensation Plan will be subject to the approval of shareholders.” Currently, Mr Mavinakere is the EVP and head of strategic operations and CEO's office. Associated with the company for more than 15 years, he is responsible for risk management, strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions, along with corporate marketing. Mr Mavinakere was the Chief Risk Officer from January 2008 to July 2013. In addition company announced the approval of 2015 Incentive Compensation Plan as an amendment to the existing 2011 RSU Plan. -Sumana
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Black Oil Paint Thrown On Kulkarni’s Face, Shiv Sena Defends October 12, 2015 16:07
On Monday, black oil paint was thrown on the face of Sudheendra Kulkarni, who is organizing book launch event of former Pakistani Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in Mumbai. Kulkarni has alleged that the attackers belong to Shiv Sena. Observer Research Foundation (ORF) chairman Mr. Kulkarni said, "Around 10-15 activists of Shiv Sena gheraoed me today morning outside my home. They abused me and called me anti-national and threatened me. They threw black paint on me after abusing me and chanting slogans.” Immediately after the incident, a press conference was addressed by Mr. Kasuri and Mr. Kulkarni. Mr. Kasuri said that the incident did not look like a "protest" to him. "I recognise people's right to protest, but what has happened with Sudheendra Kulkarni is not protest," the former Pakistani Minister added, saying that a 'positive mindset' was required. Meawhile, Mr. Kulkarni said the event would proceed as planned. Sena justifies act, calls mild attack As a reaction to the ink attack on Mr. Kulkarni, Sanjay Raut, a senior leader of Shiv Sena, said that, “smearing ink is a very mild form of democratic protest.” “We don’t know if ink or tar was smeared. Nobody can foretell how public anger will explode,” Raut added. Moreover, Mr. Raut threatened of protest at the venue of book launch in Mumbai. Earlier, cancellation of a music concert of Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali was forced by Sena. Ghulam Ali was supposed to pay musical tribute to Jagjit Singh, the ghazal maestro. Also read: Pakistani Ghazal Singer’s Concert Cancelled Due To Shiv Sena Threat Book launch will take place as per schedule Mr. Kasuri is scheduled to launch ‘Neither a Hawk nor a Dove: An Insider’s Account of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy’, his memoir at the Hall of Culture, Nehru Centre. A panel discussion would follow the launch. Historian A.G. Noorani, former Kashmir negotiator and senior journalist Dileep Padgaonkar and actor Naseeruddin Shah are expected to take part according to the schedule. -Sumana
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Twin Explosions At Turkey’s Capital, At Least 20 People Dead October 10, 2015 16:55
Twin explosions occurred in Ankara, capital of Turkey, in which at least 20 people were feared dead. The explosions targeted a peace rally organized by activists of leftist and pro-Kurdish groups. As per news from AFP, eyewitnesses told that several corpses were seen lying on the ground. According to reports from NTV television and the Dogan news agency, at least 20 people were killed. NTV also added that nearly 100 people were left wounded. Initially reports came out on huge explosion, but later Turkish media said that two separate blasts occurred. According to Anatolia news agency official, the possibility of blasts due to suicide bombers is being explored. Ahmet Davutoglu, Prime Minister, had been briefed over the blast by Mehmet Muezzinoglu, health minister, it added. Turkish official was quoted by AFP as saying that, "We are investigating the explosion and will share our findings with the public as soon as possible.” No further details were given. As per the schedule, a peace rally was supposed to be hosted by leftist groups later in the day, which include the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). -Sumana
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